Clock Running Out For NJ Marriage

As the January 19th inauguration of Governor-elect Chris Christie grows nearer, the odds of marriage equality in New Jersey are dimming.

Earlier this month, the state Senate canceled a vote on the issue when it became clear there was not enough support to pass it. The issue was handed over to the state Assembly, which has not scheduled a hearing on it. Albert Porroni, executive director of the Office of Legislative Services, says the Assembly could take up the measure without a committee hearing. The last-minute decision to pull the gay marriage bill off the voting calender was "disappointing" said Senate President Dick Codey (D-Essex) who spent hours working on his own speech for what he termed "a historic debate." The lack of overwhelming backing for the bill scared supporters, but opponents weren't crowing either. "I don't have a nose count but it's not gonna be a slam dunk, for or against," said Len Deo of the New Jersey Family Policy Council, which opposes gay marriage.

The last session of New Jersey's lame duck legislature is January 11th.